“We’ll take you.” Claire rubbed my back. “We will all go with you, and we’ll get your things, and we’ll keep you safe. If that’s what you need to do, then we’re here for you.”
Jackson frowned, but nodded his head. “If that’s what you need to do,” he said.
“You all would go with me?”
“Of course we will.” Nick said as he appeared from behind Jackson. I didn’t even realize that he’d been standing there this whole time.
The large tears streamed down my face.
“We’re family.” Jackson said as he sat down next to me on the sofa. He took my hand in his and kissed the back of it softly.
Claire’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. She was having an unbelievably proud Mommy moment. I saw it on T.V. once. I guess our cat was completely out of the bag, and we couldn’t hide the relationship from them. I didn’t mind though. If I could belong to any family in the whole world, this one would be it, by a landslide.
“Thank you so much.” I wrapped Claire up in another hug.
They were rubbing off on me indeed.
“I’m going to go call my Aunt. I know it’s late, but she will want to know what’s going on.” I said as I walked out of the room.
I am Free
It was Sunday already, and we were leaving on our epic road trip to freedom. They were Kennedy’s words not mine. Aunt Darcy apologized for not coming along, but I knew it would be hard for her. She didn’t want to come back to this place either, and I couldn’t blame her. She told me she was proud of me though, and we’d talk all about it as soon as I got back.
Yippee.
I rode all the way there in the backseat between Kennedy and Jackson. Both of them exhausted me by trying to keep my mind off of the task at hand. We played games, we sang, we talked, and I was about two minutes from lifting up the back hatch and jumping out. God love them for trying, but my nerves were shot.
When I saw the driveway to my home straight ahead I nearly threw up.
“No more talking please.” I said to them as the house came closer and closer into view. I knew what lay in store for me, and the thought made scratching my eyeballs out sound like the best plan of the day.
The car grew eerily silent as we pulled into the driveway. When the car stopped, no one said a word, especially when they saw my Dad walk around from the back of the house.
“That’s my Dad.” I said to whoever was listening.
“I’d like to have a word with him.” Nick said as he practically jumped from the driver’s seat.
“Let me out.” I told Kennedy, as I pushed her towards the door. I didn’t know what Nick was going to do, and this was my fight. I wasn’t some little girl anymore and I wanted the power he had over me to be gone.
I could already here the yelling before I reached them. Kennedy was taking her sweet time, and I knew why. She wanted to let her Dad get his say so.
“STOP!” I screamed when I reached them.
I had eighteen years to think of what I’d say to him, and I was drawing the biggest blank. Both men stood there looking at me and waiting for me to say what I’d come to say. Nick nodded his head for me to tell him.
“Dad.” I started to speak.
“You come up here bringing these God forsaken strangers into my house to tell me how to raise my children.” He started yelling in my face.
“SHUT UP!” I screamed. “I’VE HAD ENOUGH!”
It was the first time in my life I’d ever raised my voice at my father.
I took a deep breath and ran my sweaty hands along my skirt.
“I’m not here to fight, and I’m not here for you to yell at me like I’m this little girl that you have control over. I’m not yours to control anymore. I’m eighteen. I’m sorry that I didn’t do everything you wanted me to do, and that I turned out to be what you think is a poor excuse for a daughter. It wasn’t my intentions to be disobedient or saddening. I’ve never done you wrong in my life. I’ve never deliberately disobeyed you, yet you scolded me as if I were the child of a devil. Well I’m sorry, but this is me. This is the girl that I choose to be, and I don’t care if you don’t like it. You’re just going to have to live with it, because I’m not changing. Not for you, or anyone.”
My whole body was shaking at this point, including my voice.
“You came to me several times in my dreams. You were always scary and mean, and I would wake up some nights and pray that you would find the good in your heart, but I’m not sure there is good inside you anywhere.”
He started to speak but I held up my hand. He wasn’t going to ruin this for me too.
“This family,” I pointed to them all standing behind me. “They’ve shown me more love in the little time that I’ve known them, then you’ve showed me my entire life. You’re evil, and one day you’re going to pay for what you’ve done to me.” I swallowed the lump in my throat.
“I came back here today to tell you that I never want to see you again. I will get what’s left of mine from my room, and I will walk out of that front door. If I ever see your face again it would be too soon. Don’t come looking for me. Don’t call me. Don’t ever show your face at Aunt Darcy’s house again. You make me sick.”
His eyes were dark and dangerous, but he knew that I meant every word I said.
“One of these days I’m going to get married, and have kids. And when I do, I’m going to love them with every power inside me. I’m never going to hit them the way that you hit me.”
“I never touched you.” He said.
What?
I was stunned at his words. He was trying to make me out to be a liar, or maybe he truly believed his own lies. Maybe somewhere down inside of him, he’d blocked out those memories because he knew how wrong he really was.
I un-tucked my shirt from my skirt and lifted the back of it up.
I was completely oblivious to everyone behind. I didn’t care anymore if they saw, because I knew they’d still love me.
I turned around and let my back show to my father; all the while my true family were shedding tears. When I looked back at my father, his eyes were focused on the ground. He couldn’t even face what he’d done.
“Look at me. You did this.” I wanted an ounce of sympathy from him, just a tiny little ounce of remorse.
“I’d do it again.” He said.
“Go to hell.” I said through gritted teeth, but the words had barely left my mouth when Nick lunged at my father. He knocked him onto the ground and started to punch his face over and over.
“Don’t ever come near her again!” Nick shouted at my father’s limp body on the ground. “Go get your stuff inside, and we’ll leave.” He told me.
I didn’t hesitate. I ran through the back door, but the sight of my mother standing at the stove stopped me. She looked bad, not sick, just tired.
“Mom.”
“Grace,” she said and came around the stove to see me. That dreadful apron was tied at her waist.
“I’m just getting my things, and I’m leaving.” I told her. “I won’t be back.”
“I know,” she said. It looked like she held the weight of the world on her shoulders.
“You could leave too you know.” I told her, and I meant it. I wanted her to have freedom like me, but I wasn’t sure she’d even want it.
“I’m fine here Grace.” She admitted. “I’m glad to know that you are safe and well. Are you staying with Darcy?” She asked but the entire time she was looking over my shoulder as if my father would walk in at any minute.
“Yes. You can call me there if you ever want to talk to me.” She probably wouldn’t though, but now that she knew where I was, I would know that I did my part.
I waited for a response, but when she didn’t give me one I ran off to my old room. There were only a few things that I wanted, and the blanket that my Grandmother made was the most important. I hurried to gather my things, and as I was walking out my door I met my mother. My hands were filled, but it didn’t stop her from hugging me. She wrapped her frail arms around my neck and squeezed me. I don’t remember the last time my mother hugged me. I dropped everything I was holding to the ground and hugged her back. She didn’t speak and neither did I, but we didn’t have to. That hug was worth a thousand words.